Religion, Law, & Politics: Politics of Religious Diversity (382-0-20)

Instructors

Ely Ester Orrego Torres

Meeting Info

University Library 4722: Tues, Thurs 11:00AM - 12:20PM

Overview of class

This course teaches how think critically, comparatively, and globally about the intersections of religion, law, and politics. A central focus is on how "religious freedom" and "secularism" are contested concepts, influenced by historical context and the circulation of ideas. We study these dynamics comparatively, examining the ways in which religious, legal, and political traditions around the world intersect, interact and co-constitute. Students will learn to critically evaluate competing perspectives and articulate informed positions on contemporary challenges in diverse societies and it also aims to equip students with the knowledge and analytical tools to engage thoughtfully in global debates on religion, politics, and human rights.

The course is organized around a set of theories and legal cases curated by Professor Elizabeth Hurd and Professor Winnifred Sullivan which are available through the open access Teaching Law and Religion Case Study Archive. The course traverses disciplinary, geographic, and secular-religious boundaries, drawing on readings from politics, socio-legal studies, religious studies, indigenous studies, anthropology, history, and popular culture. Students will consider their own experiences of living with religious diversity as we explore strategies to think religion anew in the contemporary world. Through readings, discussions, case studies, and collective projects, students will gain a nuanced understanding of the complex dynamics of religious freedom and secularism in world politics.

Learning Objectives

- Engage with literature, research, and theories related to social and religious diversity in a global context.
- Understand the impact that histories, institutions, and social structures have on local issues and individual experiences and identities, including their own.
- Be able to recognize the deep significance of theological and religious concepts in secular political thought and practices.
- Develop an ability to think, write, and express ideas critically about political, religious, economic, and cultural issues related to religious issues in context.
- Demonstrate an ability to communicate effectively with student colleagues who may have different religious, economic and political backgrounds and experiences.

Teaching Method

Combined lecture and discussion, including smaller discussion groups and group activities.

Evaluation Method

Throughout the quarter, students will complete a variety of assignments designed to foster critical engagement and collaborative learning. These include: weekly discussion questions and responses posted to the online forum, one short response paper (approximately 3 pages), an in-class group presentation, and a final collective project based on one of the course case studies. Final grades will be calculated as follows: (1) attendance, in-class participation, and forum contributions (15%); (2) short response paper (25%); (3) in-class group presentation (20%); and (4) final collective project (40%).

Class Materials (Required)

Steven K. Green, Inventing a Christian America: The Myth of the Religious Founding. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015. Elizabeth Shakman Hurd, Beyond Religious Freedom: The New Global Politics of Religion. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2017. Juan Marco Vaggione and José Manuel Morán Faúndes, Laicidad and Religious Diversity in Latin America. Cham: Springer. 2016.

Class Attributes

Ethical and Evaluative Thinking Foundational Disci
Social and Behavioral Science Foundational Discipl
U.S. Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity
Ethics & Values Distro Area